Mop wringer



Jan. 17, 1939.. I H. T. GIDDINGS 2,143,845

MOP WRINGER Filed Aug. 25, 1936 I N VEN TOR. HflEOAD 7." G/DDl/YGS /-//6 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 i) HTE STA'EEE amass PATET FF1E 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to wringers and more particularly to mop wringers of the type having a funnel-shaped receptacle adapted to be removably secured to a mop pail or bucket and into which a saturated mop head may be inserted and rotated to compress the same and expel the excess fluid therefrom.

The principal object of my invention is the provision, in a mop wringer of the class described, of means for effecting radial and axial compression of the mop head by mere rotation of the same whereby maximum expulsion of fluid is obtained with a minimum of effort.

Other objects of my invention are: To provide a mop wringer in which the cords of the mop head may not readily become entangled in the wringing structure; to provide a mop wringer of the class described wherein the wringing structure is positioned below the rim of the pail so that the fluid will not slop over the sides of the receptacle onto the floor during the wringing operation; to provide a mop wringer which can be readily attached and removed from a mop pail; to provide for rapid return of the fluid wrung from the mop to the receptacle so that the wringing operation may be rapidly performed; and to provide a wringer which is ruggedly constructed and not likely to be injured by severe usage.

My invention possesses other objects and features of value, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be specifically set forth in the following description. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is not to be limited to the particular species thereof shown and described, as various other embodiments may be employed Within the scope of the appended claims. r

In terms of broad inclusion, my invention comprises a funnel-shaped receptacle adapted to be positioned within a pail or bucket and to receive the saturated head of a mop. Perforations are provided in the walls of the receptacle to permit the escape of fluid therethrough and into the pail; and means are provided at the restricted end of the receptacle for limiting the movement of the end of the mop head axially of the receptacle and for facilitating the wringing thereof when the mop is rotated. Means is provided on the inner walls of the receptacle for facilitating the compression of the mop head when the same is rotated, such means preferably comprising a plurality of helically disposed riffies or ribs which act in the nature of screw threads to advance the mop head, upon rotation thereof, toward the restricted end of the receptacle whereby the same is compressed and the excess fluid therein expelled. Means is also provided for removably mounting the receptacle on the pail, and the mounting is so formed that when the receptacle is disposed in operative position, the possibility of fluid slopping over the sides of the pail while the mop is being wrung is reduced to a minimum.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a pail show ing the improved mop wringer of my invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the structure illustrated in Figure l.

A portion of the figure is broken away to shorten the view.

Figure 3 is a fragmental front elevational View illustrating the latch.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure illustrating the means for attaching the wringer to the pail.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of wringer.

In detail, the invention is adapted for use with a pail or other receptacle 6 having an open upper end, preferably of substantially oval form, bordered by a rolled rim 1. Opposed bail ears 8, secured to the pail by the rivets 9, are provided, and the same are supplied with apertures II in which the opposite ends of the bail l2 are pivotally disposed.

Covering a portion of the opening of the pail is a plate IS, the main portion of which is disposed slightly below the level of the top of the pail rim i. This plate is provided along a portion of its perimeter with a channel-shaped bead l4 which overlaps the rim. The opposite ends of the depending outer flange 16 of the bead are, as is shown in Figrue 4, provided with notches ll into which the bail ears 8 project; and lugs I 8, which overlie the underside of the respective bail ears, serve to lock the plate 23 in position. In order to lock the forward end of the plate to the pail, I provide a section of spring wire E9, the opposite ends of which are secured to the flange It in such manner that the middle portion thereof lies below and in contact with the underside of the rim 7. It is apparent that such construction forms a resilient latch which can be released by simply flexing the wire outwardly from under the rim thus permitting the front end of the plate E3 to be raised and moved to disengage the lugs Hi from the bail ears.

I prefer that the rear edge of plate i 3 be curved as shown in Figure 1 so as to provide as large a space as possible between the edges of the plate and rim through which the mop head may be readily inserted into the pail. I further prefer to strengthen the rear curved edge of the plate and for this purpose I provide a downturned flange 2| thereon.

Plate I3 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 22, and secured to the lower surface of the plate, by welding, soldering, or other suitable manner, is the flange 23 of a funnel-shaped receptacle 2d, the axis of which is in alinement with the center of the aperture 22. The sloping side wall of the receptacle 24 is provided with a plurality of raised riffles or ribs 26, these being preferably formed, as shown in the drawing, integrally from the material of the side wall itself. Each rifile preferably starts adjacent the upper end of the wall and curves downwardly therealong in a spiral path, as regards the axis of the receptacle 24.

It will be observed, particularly in Figure 1, that if a mop head is placed in the open upper end of the funnel-shaped receptacle and rotated in a clockwise direction, the engagement of the cords or fabric of the mop head with the lower surface of each rifiie or rib will act to urge the mop head downwardly into the receptacle, and, since the diameter of the receptacle decreases toward the bottom end thereof, the mop head will be compressed, all without the expenditure of any energy on the part of the user, other than that required to rotate the mop. It is obvious that if the user bears downwardly on the mop handle, compression of the mop head will be greatly increased and rapid expulsion of fluid therefrom obtained.

Means is provided for limiting the axial movement of the mop head relative to the receptacle 24. For this purpose the lower open end of the receptacle is preferably provided with a plurality of V-shaped bars 2! each crossing the other at the central axis of the receptacle and each being provided, at its opposite ends, with upwardly bent portions 28 which are suitably secured in the grooves created on the external surface of the receptacle 24 by the formation of the rifiies 25. It will be observed that the bars 2'! provide a conical screen at the bottom of the receptacle, against which the mop head is forced as it is compressed. Bars 2? limit the axial movement of the mop head and assist in expressing excess fluid from the end thereof. These bars provide no appreciable obstruction in the lower end of the funnel-shaped receptacle and fluid expelled from the mop may be rapidly discharged therethrough into the pail.

To facilitate the discharge of the fluid from the receptacle during the wringing operation, I provide, in addition to the open bottom end thereof, a plurality of apertures 29 in the wall thereof. These apertures are preferably arranged in rows, one peripherally around and adjacent the upper end of the receptacle and one adjacent each rifile or rib. Such arrangement of apertures permits the rapid discharge of the fluid since they are positioned adjacent the points where greatest compression occurs.

As heretofore pointed out, the main portion of plate I3 is disposed below the top of the bead I4 and the pail rim E. This arrangement serves to prevent the fluid which overflows the receptacle during the wringing operation from slopping over the sides of the pail onto the floor. It is apparent that the fluid which escapes onto the top of the plate will be discharged over the curved rear edge thereof into the pail. To facilitate the quick return of such fluid to the pail, I provide the plate with drain apertures 3|.

In Figure I have shown a modified form of wringer in which the receptacle 24 is formed as described above but without deforming the walls to provide the riffles or ribs, which latter in the modified form are formed of rods 32 which are suitably secured to the inner surface of the receptacle. It will be observed that the bottom of the Wringer is formed of the bent portions 33 of the rods. Each rod starting adjacent the upper edge of the receptacle curves downwardly in helical relation to the axis thereof, extends across the bottom open end of the receptacle, and then upwardly along the opposite side and in helical relation with the axis thereof.

It will be evident that the pitch of the helix of the riffies 2%, or the rods 32, may be made as great or as small as desired. The pitch of the helix Will in great measure govern the amount of exertion required on the part of the user to effect wringing of the mop. In this connection, the smaller the pitch of the helix, the less the exertion, and vice versa.

Applicant desires to point out that the device of his invention lends itself to economical handling, shipping and storage, since a plurality of the wringers may be nested with each other.

While the wringers may be constructed of any sheet metal desired, it is contemplated that nonferrous metal will be employed because of its greater resistance to corrosion by chemicals to which it will be subjected when in use.

I claim:

1. In combination with a pail, a funnel-shaped receptacle disposed within said pail for receiving a mop head, said receptacle having rows of aligned apertures in the wall thereof, and a curved rifi'le rising from said wall adjacent each row of said apertures and adapted to urge said head axially of the receptacle when said head is rotated.

2. In combination with a pail, an apertured plate having a channeled bead adapted to overlap the rim of said pail and position said plate below said rim, a funnel-shaped receptacle depending from said plate in axial alignment with said aperture and adapted to receive through said aperture a mop head, means on a surface of said receptacle for urging said head axially thereof when said head is rotated, and means disposed within said channeled bead for removably securing said plate to said pail.

3. The combination, with a vessel for fluid having an open end, a rim bordering said open end, and ears extending therefrom to which a handle is secured, of an apertured plate having a marginal flange thereon overlying a portion of said rim and adapted to normally position said plate below said rim, means disposed on said flange at opposite ends thereof for engaging said ears, and means disposed on said flange intermediate said ends for frictionally engaging said rim to provide for removably securing said plate to said vessel, a funnel-shaped receptacle depending from said plate in axial alignment with said plate aperture and into which a mop head may be inserted, a plurality of elements rising from a surface of said receptacle and curved along helical paths with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said elements being engageable with said mop head to impart axial movement thereto relative to said receptacle when said head is rotated, and a plurality of bars disposed across the restricted end of said receptacle for limiting the axial movement of said mop head with respect thereto.

HAROLD T. GIDDINGS. 

